1 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,800 The family is one of the most powerful forces in nature. 2 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,520 Family life is full of wonder... 3 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:22,520 Beauty... 4 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,120 ..and drama. 5 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,280 For the past four years, we've been following some 6 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,640 of the most celebrated and endangered species on Earth. 7 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:58,080 We followed their fortunes from here on the plains of Zimbabwe, 8 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,080 to the jungles of India... 9 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,520 From the edge of the Sahara... 10 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,760 ..to the frozen wastes of Antarctica. 11 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,880 We join each family at a crucial moment in their lives 12 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,960 when they are battling against the odds. 13 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:29,160 Fighting for survival against the elements... 14 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:34,760 ..and against rivals. 15 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,760 We've got closer, and filmed in greater length, 16 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,760 and in more detail, than we've ever tried to do before. 17 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,160 In our modern world, ensuring the survival of the next generation 18 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,000 is becoming ever more difficult. 19 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,520 For these families to win against the odds 20 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,880 will be their greatest challenge. 21 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,120 This is Dynasties. 22 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,800 Senegal, West Africa. 23 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,680 Home to a remarkable troupe of chimpanzees. 24 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,800 It gets so hot and dry here, it's the very limit of where 25 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,040 they can survive. 26 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,560 This territory is ruled by one strong and determined leader... 27 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,440 ..an alpha male known as David. 28 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,520 His rule gets him the best of everything. 29 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,120 CHIMPANZEES SCREECH 30 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:27,880 But, he can trust no-one. 31 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:40,320 He's surrounded by rivals prepared to kill him for his crown. 32 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:55,040 This is a story of power, politics and the fight for survival. 33 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:28,000 David's torn ears are testament to the many battles he's fought 34 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,280 and won to protect his status and his family. 35 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,480 He has ruled over his troupe for three years. 36 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,640 Leaders here don't usually hold power for much longer than this. 37 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:02,160 And now, as the dry season begins, David's rivals are gathering again. 38 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:16,760 Successful alpha males normally have many allies to support them. 39 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,400 But David is alone. 40 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,760 He has never been more vulnerable. 41 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,600 In the dry season, these huge mounds of earth 42 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,040 are magnets for all 32 chimps in the group. 43 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:06,600 The mounds are full of food, rich in fat and protein... 44 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:16,760 ..termites. 45 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,800 These chimps have learned to use grass stems 46 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,560 as tools to fish out the insects. 47 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,200 As leader, David gets his pick of the feeding spots. 48 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:59,640 But he is wary, as he must feed alongside old enemies. 49 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,000 He knows two particularly ambitious rivals. 50 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:14,960 David's toes begin to twitch, a nervous tic he can't conceal. 51 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:29,120 This is Jumkin, who has long-sought the top spot. 52 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,640 And this, Luthor... 53 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:50,040 ..a tempestuous younger male with an aggressive streak. 54 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,400 The troupe is together for the first time in months and jostling 55 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,000 for good feeding spots can easily lead to clashes. 56 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:24,720 It's vital that David keeps order, and defuses the situation. 57 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:25,960 All eyes are on him. 58 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:27,120 THEY CALL TO EACH OTHER 59 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,120 His display shows he is in control. 60 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:47,520 But in chimp society, strength alone is not enough. 61 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,920 David must be political to hold on to power. 62 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,760 He needs to make an ally. 63 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,720 This is KL. 64 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,520 He's strong but grey-bearded and past the age where he would 65 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,840 challenge for the role of alpha. 66 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,080 David makes an approach. 67 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,720 Grooming builds bonds of friendship... 68 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,720 ..buying support and giving benefits in return. 69 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,680 You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. 70 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:06,200 Only time will tell if this new alliance will pay off. 71 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:25,600 Temperatures soar. 72 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,240 It's already 40 degrees. 73 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:07,600 The arid land might seem one giant sandpit for the infants... 74 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:16,520 ..but for the adults, existing tensions are starting to surface. 75 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,240 And David has his eye on Jumkin. 76 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,240 Jumkin attacks an elderly female. 77 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,040 It is a display of his aspirations for power. 78 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,360 David can't tolerate this... 79 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:22,680 ..but KL steps in... 80 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,560 ..and gives Jumkin a sharp lesson. 81 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,960 THEY SCREECH 82 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,600 It's swiftly followed by one from David himself. 83 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,320 With a final, huge lunge at his rival... 84 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:10,800 ..Jumkin comes crashing down. 85 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:26,520 Together, David and KL are now a force to be reckoned with. 86 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,400 Fires destroy three quarters of the group's territory. 87 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,920 Much of their food and shelter has gone. 88 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:10,480 And with temperatures continuing to rise, 89 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,000 water is becoming perilously scarce. 90 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,640 The group must stick together to survive. 91 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,480 Gathering in a dried out riverbed, they use knowledge passed 92 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,000 down from generation to generation. 93 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,440 A hidden water source under the parched earth. 94 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,320 For David, there is more than just drought to worry about. 95 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,240 He can't avoid his rivals. 96 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,520 KL is proving to be a loyal ally to David. 97 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,040 And David is going to need him more than ever. 98 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,000 By rare coincidence, three of the seven females 99 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,440 have become sexually receptive at the same time. 100 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,960 Their swellings attract the attention of all the males. 101 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,880 The females will try to mate with as many males as possible. 102 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:54,080 David must control them all to ensure he is the one who mates. 103 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:03,120 But some of the troupe, like Luthor, have other ideas. 104 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,600 THEY SCREECH 105 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,480 All the other males see this could be their chance. 106 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,800 There's never been a more important moment for David 107 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:33,240 to assert his power. 108 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:39,600 He makes the first move. 109 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:58,480 His rivals respond with their own display of strength 110 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,640 and start to close ranks. 111 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:05,680 David and KL seemed to be outnumbered. 112 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,960 Everything turns to chaos. 113 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,480 SCREECHING 114 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:13,240 At some point during the night, the younger males turned on David. 115 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:30,280 The females and their infants come to his side to support him 116 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:31,400 and tend his wounds. 117 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:48,720 They can't stay here. 118 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,480 They and their young need water. 119 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:59,640 The whole group move on to the nearest water hole. 120 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,920 Even KL has to leave David behind. 121 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,160 It's a six mile trek to the next source of water. 122 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,960 David is left for dead. 123 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:43,320 There is now a power vacuum at the top 124 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,160 and Luthor sees an opportunity. 125 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:27,600 Creating fear within the group is one way to become leader. 126 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,560 THEY SCREECH 127 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,520 AGGRESSIVE SCREECHING 128 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,480 He tries to intimidate the group, but a bid for leadership 129 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:27,680 is never instant. 130 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:32,400 He'll have to keep this up for many days. 131 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:26,600 Friendless and wounded, David somehow musters the energy 132 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:27,960 to search for food. 133 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:41,040 He has to rejoined the group before he's exiled for good. 134 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,280 But first, he must regain strength. 135 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:53,320 Time is running out. 136 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:09,480 Remarkably, one week after the attack, 137 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,120 David makes the long journey to find the group. 138 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:55,840 Luthor, meanwhile, has ramped up his bid for leadership. 139 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,120 David has almost made it... 140 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,880 ..but he's in no fit state to fight. 141 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:28,480 Luthor spots David's approach... 142 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,000 ..and readies himself for battle. 143 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:52,560 David's only chance against Luthor is to make himself look 144 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:54,160 as strong as possible. 145 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,320 SCREECHING 146 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:20,120 THEY CONTINUE TO SCREECH 147 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:31,560 Intimidated, Luthor has to run. 148 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:42,280 Without a blow being struck, David is back! 149 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:21,760 David is finally reunited with his comrade, KL. 150 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:57,080 Grooming each other reaffirms their bonds of friendship. 151 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:51,840 For David, returning is only half the battle. 152 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:57,280 Exhausted and fragile, he's only hanging on to his 153 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:58,960 leadership by a thread. 154 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:16,880 Luthor appears defeated. 155 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:27,040 With a submissive gesture, he seeks forgiveness from David. 156 00:35:58,240 --> 00:36:01,120 But David is unwilling to accept. 157 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:25,680 Over the following weeks, Luthor finds himself sidelined. 158 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:42,400 The other males now gather around David. 159 00:37:00,240 --> 00:37:03,440 And Luthor has no choice but to step in line. 160 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:12,320 David has his group around him once more, 161 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:16,000 but he doesn't show them how weakened he really is. 162 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:23,640 His injuries haven't healed and the males could turn on him 163 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:25,200 again at any moment. 164 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:39,240 For now, he seems to be fooling them all. 165 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:54,280 He's buying himself time to regain his strength 166 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:58,640 before another female comes into season 167 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:00,880 when he will face competition once again. 168 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:05,800 THUNDER ROARS 169 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,360 At last, rain-filled clouds bring an end to the drought. 170 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,720 David's territory is transformed. 171 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:17,120 There is water everywhere and a glut of food. 172 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:26,400 The pressure on the group is lifted. 173 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:38,040 Everyone can relax a little after months of hardship. 174 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:47,280 David's strength appears to be returning. 175 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:53,240 His displays in front of the group become ever more assertive. 176 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:15,480 But in truth, he remains weaker than he lets on to the others. 177 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:33,160 Whenever possible, he disappears to gather extra food. 178 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:48,680 He gorges on everything he can find... 179 00:41:48,680 --> 00:41:49,720 ..fruit... 180 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:53,120 ..leaves... 181 00:41:57,920 --> 00:41:59,240 ..even ants. 182 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,760 He's almost back to full health. 183 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:28,760 But that alone might still not be enough for him 184 00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:30,120 to hold on to power. 185 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:34,720 Soon, another female will be ready to mate. 186 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:53,520 Last time, one ally was not enough for David. 187 00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:58,640 He tries a new strategy. 188 00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:13,480 He starts grooming other males. 189 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:23,680 First one... 190 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:32,000 ..then another. 191 00:43:48,240 --> 00:43:52,080 Slowly, over weeks, he surrounds himself 192 00:43:52,080 --> 00:43:53,560 with a band of allies. 193 00:44:01,160 --> 00:44:03,520 An army of elders... 194 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:08,920 ..experienced fighters, but too old to steal his crown. 195 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:17,960 Now, he must wait and see if he's done enough 196 00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:21,680 to prevent a recurrence of dissent in the ranks. 197 00:44:31,440 --> 00:44:34,440 Sure enough, a female has come into season. 198 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:42,720 Her swelling doesn't go unnoticed. 199 00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:01,880 Last time, David was vulnerable. 200 00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:25,160 This time, he has allies... 201 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:31,680 SCREECHING 202 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:34,400 ..prepared to charge ahead and clear his path. 203 00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:50,320 Displaying his strength reminds rivals to stay away. 204 00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:16,960 If David has fully secured his position as Alpha, 205 00:46:16,960 --> 00:46:19,280 he will be the one who mates with the female. 206 00:46:29,760 --> 00:46:31,200 She catches his eye. 207 00:46:45,320 --> 00:46:50,240 With a number of allies positioned throughout the group, 208 00:46:50,240 --> 00:46:52,400 none of his rivals dare to challenge him. 209 00:46:55,480 --> 00:46:58,600 This is David's time to mate. 210 00:47:59,200 --> 00:48:00,640 Nine months later... 211 00:48:15,360 --> 00:48:17,360 ..a new baby boy! 212 00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:23,880 David's reward for maintaining power. 213 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:37,600 His rule and the future of his dynasty is secure. 214 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:50,840 By being Alpha, David will have sired 215 00:48:50,840 --> 00:48:54,720 twice as many offspring as any other member of the group. 216 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:03,320 And one day, one of his sons might just have what it takes 217 00:49:03,320 --> 00:49:05,120 to be a future leader. 218 00:49:16,120 --> 00:49:20,440 David has become the most powerful, longest reigning alpha, 219 00:49:20,440 --> 00:49:22,800 this group has ever seen. 220 00:49:26,080 --> 00:49:32,760 But there will always be another dry season, and there will always be 221 00:49:32,760 --> 00:49:36,120 rivals waiting for their chance. 222 00:49:56,680 --> 00:50:00,440 The Dynasties crew spent two years capturing the story 223 00:50:00,440 --> 00:50:02,160 of these chimpanzees. 224 00:50:08,920 --> 00:50:11,360 This is how every day begins. 225 00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:19,280 Walking over 1,500 miles... 226 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:21,520 You know it's steep when the chimps are being careful. 227 00:50:25,680 --> 00:50:32,600 ..carrying around 80 kilos each day in some of the hottest 228 00:50:32,600 --> 00:50:35,520 temperatures on Earth. 229 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:41,600 It's got to be 46, 47 degrees right now. 230 00:50:44,160 --> 00:50:48,680 I think it's fair to say filming a blazing fire, 231 00:50:48,680 --> 00:50:52,840 when it's 40 degrees wasn't probably my best idea. 232 00:50:52,840 --> 00:50:54,600 BEES BUZZING 233 00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:57,960 It's crazy, it's the second time we've had to run away 234 00:50:57,960 --> 00:51:00,280 from bees this morning. 235 00:51:00,280 --> 00:51:03,280 I got stung, and as you might be able to tell, 236 00:51:03,280 --> 00:51:05,760 it's swollen up a little bit. 237 00:51:07,880 --> 00:51:09,360 Oh, my God. 238 00:51:14,200 --> 00:51:15,800 How stuck is it? 239 00:51:15,800 --> 00:51:17,120 It's pretty stuck. 240 00:51:18,880 --> 00:51:21,760 But the hardest challenge of all is understanding 241 00:51:21,760 --> 00:51:25,480 the complexities of the lives of these chimps. 242 00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:28,840 This is only possible thanks to scientist Jill Pruetz 243 00:51:28,840 --> 00:51:34,240 and her team, who have been studying this troupe for nearly 20 years. 244 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:38,360 One of the reasons I think I like to have people see the chimps 245 00:51:38,360 --> 00:51:41,200 is, it is almost like a soap opera. 246 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:45,880 It really is this social group that is not that different 247 00:51:45,880 --> 00:51:48,360 from humans. So you have relationships change 248 00:51:48,360 --> 00:51:50,640 and you have different personalities. 249 00:51:54,120 --> 00:51:58,000 Jill's insights helped the team get to know all the different characters 250 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,720 she has given names to over the years. 251 00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:05,600 But right from the start, one chimp named David, 252 00:52:05,600 --> 00:52:08,440 grabs everyone's attention. 253 00:52:08,440 --> 00:52:14,000 We've only been here a few days but immediately David stood out. 254 00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:15,800 He's really recognisable. 255 00:52:17,080 --> 00:52:19,960 He's a bit of a game player, but also he's often on his own. 256 00:52:23,000 --> 00:52:26,000 He's very, very charismatic. 257 00:52:26,000 --> 00:52:28,280 He's got a real kind of swagger to him. 258 00:52:28,280 --> 00:52:30,960 He reminds me of Marlon Brando, actually, he's got this real kind 259 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:32,080 of presence to him. 260 00:52:35,080 --> 00:52:36,600 David is one of my favourite chimps. 261 00:52:36,600 --> 00:52:39,200 I maybe a little biased, I think he's quite clever. 262 00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:42,880 I think of him as a very strong, you know, strong willed chimp, 263 00:52:42,880 --> 00:52:47,800 a very dominant chimp and he was very ambitious 264 00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:51,720 when he first became a young adult, and he rose up the hierarchy 265 00:52:51,720 --> 00:52:53,720 really quickly for his age. 266 00:52:53,720 --> 00:52:58,280 So he became alpha, actually, when he was a teenager. 267 00:52:58,280 --> 00:53:04,520 He's constantly having to fend off challenges from other younger males. 268 00:53:06,520 --> 00:53:10,280 And it just goes to show it's tough being alpha. 269 00:53:10,280 --> 00:53:12,320 It's tough being at the top. 270 00:53:15,600 --> 00:53:18,800 After following David for so many months, 271 00:53:18,800 --> 00:53:21,240 he seems almost like family to the crew. 272 00:53:23,440 --> 00:53:26,280 So when he's violently attacked its a real shock. 273 00:53:27,960 --> 00:53:31,120 Coming out this morning, it's sort of heartbreaking to see 274 00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:36,080 this chimp that was so powerful... 275 00:53:36,080 --> 00:53:39,200 ..just looking so weak. 276 00:53:41,320 --> 00:53:45,120 Oh, he doesn't look good, he's covered in flies. 277 00:53:45,120 --> 00:53:47,720 And he's looking, looking really bad, actually. 278 00:53:49,640 --> 00:53:53,120 It's like a frail old man, suddenly. 279 00:53:53,120 --> 00:53:57,240 Like he's ready to die, almost. 280 00:54:06,560 --> 00:54:09,600 The following day their concerns deepen. 281 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:15,960 We arrived at 5am and leave not been able to find any of the chimps. 282 00:54:15,960 --> 00:54:17,960 So we've no idea what condition David's in, 283 00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:19,880 and he's in a bad way already. 284 00:54:19,880 --> 00:54:21,360 We wish him luck. 285 00:54:30,200 --> 00:54:33,360 I'm sort of worried about him, and his state. 286 00:54:35,080 --> 00:54:36,680 I just really hope he's OK. 287 00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:43,280 So we're still looking. 288 00:54:46,240 --> 00:54:48,560 They check the remote camera at the water hole, 289 00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:51,080 where they hope David might have gone to drink. 290 00:54:55,440 --> 00:54:57,120 I've just gone from the beginning... 291 00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:04,840 ..and it looks like David hasn't been to drink here. 292 00:55:14,520 --> 00:55:16,840 Michelle has just found some tracks. 293 00:55:16,840 --> 00:55:19,480 How he finds these things I don't know, but there's a chance 294 00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:22,360 we might catch up with him. Good find, let's go. 295 00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:30,560 Luckily, the tracks do indeed lead to David. 296 00:55:30,560 --> 00:55:36,200 We've been really worried with the extent of his injuries, 297 00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:40,560 we didn't know if he was alive, or if he was ever coming back. 298 00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:49,160 He came right back in and maintained that alpha status. 299 00:55:51,200 --> 00:55:55,400 David has been alpha for almost double what we've seen 300 00:55:55,400 --> 00:55:56,920 with other alphas. 301 00:55:56,920 --> 00:55:59,960 He's been challenged a few times, but he's been able to hold on. 302 00:56:02,920 --> 00:56:08,040 We saw him, not only nearly lose his position in the hierarchy, 303 00:56:08,040 --> 00:56:10,200 but we saw him nearly lose his life. 304 00:56:10,200 --> 00:56:13,760 The injuries he sustained in the last coup, 305 00:56:13,760 --> 00:56:15,520 would have been enough to kill me. 306 00:56:19,200 --> 00:56:21,960 David has been able to overcome the many challenges 307 00:56:21,960 --> 00:56:24,080 that have come from within, 308 00:56:24,080 --> 00:56:28,360 but there's a greater threat that he and his group face. 309 00:56:28,360 --> 00:56:31,320 In Senegal right now, I'd say the main threat to chimpanzees 310 00:56:31,320 --> 00:56:35,720 is the gold rush, which just obliterates huge areas. 311 00:56:35,720 --> 00:56:39,360 Less than a decade ago, the prices of gold rose, 312 00:56:39,360 --> 00:56:43,800 and people have intensified gold mining, so that really has increased 313 00:56:43,800 --> 00:56:45,680 the number of people here. 314 00:56:47,080 --> 00:56:50,560 Chimps here have lived alongside people for thousands of years. 315 00:56:52,320 --> 00:56:56,800 David's group has so far adapted to life alongside humans 316 00:56:56,800 --> 00:56:58,280 in a remarkable way. 317 00:56:59,880 --> 00:57:02,920 But, with such demand for these minerals, 318 00:57:02,920 --> 00:57:07,400 and ever more people searching for gold in this region, 319 00:57:07,400 --> 00:57:11,000 habitat destruction and poaching is inevitable. 320 00:57:13,440 --> 00:57:16,000 You know, there's not that many chimpanzees left. 321 00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:19,200 The West African chimp here in Senegal, 322 00:57:19,200 --> 00:57:22,360 and in west Africa in general, has been upgraded 323 00:57:22,360 --> 00:57:27,080 to critically endangered because so many have been lost. 324 00:57:27,080 --> 00:57:30,200 In Senegal, the number of chimpanzees is now 325 00:57:30,200 --> 00:57:31,800 just in the hundreds. 326 00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:41,440 In the last 25 years, 80% of Western chimpanzees 327 00:57:41,440 --> 00:57:43,320 have disappeared. 328 00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:45,760 And in the future, studies like Jill's 329 00:57:45,760 --> 00:57:49,480 will become increasingly important to help conservationists 330 00:57:49,480 --> 00:57:54,160 and local governments protect the surviving chimpanzees, 331 00:57:54,160 --> 00:57:57,880 not only in Senegal, but across the whole of Africa. 332 00:58:04,240 --> 00:58:05,600 Next time... 333 00:58:05,600 --> 00:58:07,680 A dynasty of thousands. 334 00:58:10,400 --> 00:58:15,440 A great march into the frozen wastes of Antarctica, 335 00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:19,200 to face the coldest and cruellest winter on earth.